of Harrison, AR
May 5, 1945 - February 13, 2022
Maria Romana DeAnda passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, Arkansas. She was born on May 5, 1945, in Mercedes, Texas, to Amparo Flores and Margarito DeAnda. Maria was preceded in death by her mother, Amparo Flores; her father, Margarito DeAnda; and her brother-in-law, Roy Huntley.
Maria is survived by her sister, Terry Huntley, of Harrison; and her daughter and son-in-law, Janie DeAnda and Joshua Ledbetter, of Bentonville, Arkansas.
Although she did not enjoy the easiest life, she always found happiness in her family. Even in her youth, she devoted herself to supporting her family in whatever way she could. This devotion led her to discover her incredible seamstress skills. She was sought after to design and execute everyday clothing and even wedding dresses for the women of South Texas. Her love for sewing extended throughout her life. She was known for making her daughter custom clothing and the occasional costume long after she stopped sewing and mending for the public. If not sewing, she could be found cooking delicious food or indulging in a dramatic Mexican soap opera.
After being told that she would never bear children, she was blessed with a miracle baby that she named Janie, on June 7, 1989. Her daughter became her sole focus in life. She uprooted herself, her mother, and her child from the only home their family had known for generations. All three followed her sister and her husband when they moved to Arkansas. They all hoped that this move would offer opportunities for a better education for her daughter. Even though her English was limited, that never stopped Maria from partaking in her daughter's academic and extracurricular activities. Her support for her daughter didn't stop with her high school and college graduations. Years later, she could still be found alongside her daughter, helping her set up her classroom and offering advice and a shoulder to cry on when things got rough. Besides the love she had for her family, she was also known for her love of animals. There wasn't an animal that could resist her charm. A stray animal could always find warmth and food with her.